Black Hearted Mage

Fire Maple City still carried a bone-chilling chill in early spring, a biting north wind carrying the scent of ice and snow raging through the streets. The moment he stepped out of the carriage, the biting cold seeped through Caesar's collar, sending him shivering uncontrollably. He instinctively wrapped his cloak tighter around him, his breath forming tiny ice crystals in the air.

In the early spring evening, the temperature has dropped to an extremely low point and freezing has occurred rapidly.

The puppy at his feet was in even greater disarray, its fluffy short fur standing on end in the cold wind, like a bursting furball. It huddled closer to Caesars's legs, its moist nose twitching—the sweet scent of butter and honey! The creature instantly perked up, howling and sprinting into the pastry shop, leaving a trail of wet paw prints on the tiled floor.

The barking of the puppies was the best messenger. Cecilia, the head maid, was already waiting at the gate. This usually meticulous lady now had sunken eye sockets, her light-blonde hair hanging loosely in a single lock. Scarlet bloodshot streaked across her gray-blue eyes, and the heavy dark circles beneath them betrayed the exhaustion of days.

"Kasas," her voice was hoarse as if it had been rubbed with sandpaper, "Old Joey died just half a month ago. The young lady didn't come back either. She went to the Icecrown Mountains and hasn't returned yet!"

This news made Caesars' chest feel tight. He thought of Old Joey's face, which was always wrinkled like a walnut shell. The old man, who was not related to him by blood, was not rigid and often made some fun.

"Every year, the Northern Tower assists the Ogre Tribe against the southward invasion of monsters from the polar ice fields." Caesars said, looking at the crystal ice spikes under the eaves. Those sharp icicles were like swords hanging over his heart. "The Icecrown Mountains are still frozen, and spring there will be delayed by one or two months." He turned to Cecilia and noticed the frayed edges of her uniform cuffs - the new head of the Cavill family had obviously begun to purge his old subordinates.

"Maid," Caesars suddenly spoke, frost and snow condensing into tiny crystals on his eyelashes, "Go to my territory and help me manage the castle."

Cecilia looked up in confusion. Caesars then remembered that the news of his promotion to earl was still lying in a dusty pile of official documents in the Roland Empire's House of Nobles, with no public notice posted. Although all sorts of bizarre rumors were circulating in the taverns of Fire Maple City, no one took them seriously.

"Your castle? Where is it?"

The maid's question was tinged with obvious suspicion. Caesars raised a wry smile, and frost flowers quietly appeared on the emblem on his chest—the frost-covered crown was undergoing the test of warmth and cold.

"The Rose Castle in the South!" he answered softly. The cheerful barking of puppies could be heard in the distance, and the warm fragrance wafting from the pastry shop finally dispelled some of the chill.

"Rose Castle, that was a rumor in Fire Maple City last year!"

"Maid, rumors aren't necessarily false. The Roland Empire no longer needs great nobles, so there's no announcement this time. Besides, I'm just a mage noble, and I can't inherit that territory."

"Then tell the lady!"

"I'll just inform Ms. Joanna!"

The next morning, as the first rays of sunlight pierced the mist, a dozen freight wagons pulled by iron-horned horses were parked neatly along the crowded streets of the commercial district. These wagons, with shafts reinforced with fine iron and wheels wrapped with anti-slip chains, were clearly intended for transporting heavy goods. Among the convoy, a passenger carriage adorned with dark gold heraldry stood out. It drove straight into the narrow, walled courtyard of the Cavill family.

The carriage door opened, and the first foot to step out was a black leather boot. The two commanders of the Imperial Eagle Eyes—the feared "Imperial Jackal" Carlos and the gray-robed mage Old Quinn—stepped out one after another. Carlos's snug-fitting black leather armor gleamed coldly in the morning light, and his leather mask completely obscured his face, revealing only a pair of hawk-like eyes. Old Quinn leaned on the legendary staff made of blackthorn wood, the amethyst inlaid on the top of the staff casting a mysterious glow in the sunlight.

"We want all the magic steel ingots and high-level magical beast hides, as well as those rare herbs." Carlos's hoarse voice echoed in the living room. He skipped even the small talk and got straight to the point. "Kaesus, it's a good thing you wanted magic crystals for settlement. If you wanted gold coins..." He sneered, "I'm afraid the Minister of Finance would have to come and inspect the goods himself!"

Caesars leaned lazily against the carved chair. "We'll trade at the market price. I'm not trying to take advantage of the situation. But..." He pointed at the exquisite floor tiles under his feet. "If you want to inspect the goods, go to the courtyard. These white stone tiles shipped from the south can't withstand the weight of the magic steel."

In the somewhat cramped courtyard, Caesars first produced an ancient storage ring. With his cautious movements, dark blue magic steel ingots poured out like water, forming a small mountain on the frost-covered grass. Then, even more astonishingly, he pulled out two massive magic steel doors, four or five meters tall, from his spatial equipment. The muffled thud of the doors landing on the ground shook the ground.

"This..." Carlos frowned beneath his mask. "Caesars, we can't weigh something this size on the spot."

"No need." Caesars tapped an inconspicuous groove on the door frame with the tip of his boot. There was a set of numbers clearly engraved there. "It was accurately weighed when it was cast, and the weight is engraved here."

Old Quinn's staff suddenly emitted a slight humming sound. He narrowed his eyes, examining the intricate patterns on the door. "Such a heavy tomb door... Caesars, you didn't rob the tomb of some noble, did you?"

"That madman, Earl Garlon, lived in an abandoned mausoleum when he was alive." Caesars smiled sarcastically. "He sent people to control Blackrock City and monopolized the herbal medicine trade throughout the Blackrock Mountains. If it weren't for my intervention..." He paused meaningfully, "You wouldn't even be able to find his shadow."

After saying this, Caesars gestured for the two dignitaries to begin counting the goods. The courtyard was suddenly filled with the clash of magic steel ingots and the rustling of clerks hurriedly recording.

From dawn to noon, the small courtyard was bustling with activity. The spy chief had come prepared. He had not only bought everything but also several storage rings, but he had the items transported away by carriage after carriage. His purpose was simple: he hoped the Saint Laurent Empire's spies would also witness this scene.

The next morning, barely dawning, a biting cold wind howled through the streets of the capital. Caesars wrapped himself tightly in his magic robes, his breath condensing into frost in the air. He trudged along the icy cobblestones and arrived early at the main square. The square was sparsely populated, save for a few mercenaries, as diligent as himself, setting up stalls.

The bitter north wind whistled like a knife, and Caesars shivered. He deftly spread out the thick hide of a wild ox and neatly stacked the goods on his stall. His fingers numb from the cold, he quickly dug into his bag and pulled out a robe made of snow wolf fur—one he'd bought from a northern merchant years ago. Wrapping himself in the shaggy fur instantly dispelled the biting chill.

"This damn weather..."

Caesars grumbled, abandoning his usual flame maple recliner and moving out a low sofa covered in reindeer hide. The armrests were specially covered in wool, making it instantly warmer to sit on.

Today's merchandise was somewhat unique. Magicians' crystal balls and staves were few and far between, but the sacred artifacts of the priests filled most of the stalls: gilded chalices, moonstone-inlaid scepters, chain mail engraved with sacred runes... these were the favorites of the nobles. Caesars figured that instead of waiting for discerning buyers at the magic academy, he might as well try his luck in this bustling square.

He pulled out a tin containing a special armor-maintaining oil. Using a soft linen cloth, Caesars meticulously polished the Grand Knight Commander's gilded plate armor. The armor gleamed in the morning light, each plate gleaming brilliantly, even the Grand Cross engraved on the breastplate visible in every detail. The accompanying two-handed greatsword was a truly magnificent sight, the sapphire inlaid in the hilt gleaming captivatingly in the sunlight.

"Perfect!"

Caesars smacked his lips in satisfaction as he propped up the priceless suit of armor on a specially designed oak stand, placing it firmly beside the sofa. The gilded armor shone majestically in the morning light, quickly attracting many early risers to stop and watch.

He then produced a suit of exceptionally ornate armor. While its protective properties were far inferior to those of heavy plate armor, its exquisiteness was breathtaking. The silver armor shone with a moonlit sheen in the sunlight, and intricate golden magic patterns slithered across the metal surface like living creatures. In the center of the breastplate, a lifelike bas-relief of an eagle adorned the chestplate, each feather meticulously chiseled by a master craftsman. As he wiped the armor with suede, the protective magic arrays engraved at the joints glowed faintly with a faint blue light.

After polishing the last shoulder armor to a brilliant shine, he solemnly placed the entire suit of armor on the armor stand to the right of the leather sofa. As his fiery red velvet cape rose, the golden emblem embroidered along its edge drew a dazzling trail through the air. The matching ceremonial sword leaned against its side, the hexagram-shaped magic gem inlaid in the hilt shifting iridescent hues in response to the light.

"Holy Spirit! This... this is clearly the ceremonial armor used by the Saint Laurent royal family!"

A trembling exclamation suddenly shattered the silence of the Grand Place. An elderly nobleman, his beard and hair graying, adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, the hem of his blue silk robe trembling slightly with excitement. His bony finger pointed at the relief on the breastplate: "Look at this royal eagle with outstretched wings! The unique curve of the third feather in its beak—a technique unique to Master Ferdinand!"

Caesars's gaze slowly swept over the elderly man, who appeared to be in his sixties or seventies. Although he had diligently maintained his aristocratic decor—his robe collar was adorned with gilded silver buttons, and a dated family crest hung from his waist sash—the frayed lint on his cuffs and the slightly loose embroidered belt clearly indicated that this "Sir" was struggling to maintain even this attire. His exaggerated exclamations were more a display of his "extensive" knowledge of the royal family than admiration for the artwork.

"Good eyes! This is indeed the armor of the Saint Laurent royal family. I went through great pains to get it. These paladin armors and battle priests' belongings were all obtained with great difficulty."

When someone advertises his own goods, Caesars would of course agree and exaggerate a little.

When the old noble saw the price of the armor, he shuddered suddenly and his gold-rimmed glasses almost slipped off his nose.

The price of an ordinary Paladin's plate armor was a staggering five thousand gold coins. The Grand Knight's gilded plate armor was a staggering twenty thousand gold coins. The Saint Laurent royal family's armor was a whopping one hundred and twenty thousand gold coins.

Although the old noble was somewhat surprised by the price, he knew in his heart that these armors would be sold quickly. The nobles of Fire Maple City were never short of gold coins, but what they lacked was something to show off.

A richly decorated carriage galloped by, its wheels rolling over the still-snow-covered flagstones of the square, sending up a shower of shimmering icicles as it abruptly stopped by the fountain. An elderly man in a dark green velvet butler's robe nimbly leaped from the carriage. The silver-embroidered hem of his robe brushed against the still-melting frost, gleaming in the morning sunlight. He made his way through the bustling crowd, taking two steps at a time, the golden medallion of his family crest jingling at his waist, before finally stopping in front of Caesar's stall.

"Count Caesars!"

The old butler removed his tricorn hat trimmed with ermine fur, the white mist from his breath blurring his wrinkled yet energetic face. "Your Excellency has requested this set of Yves Saint Laurent royal armor." He pulled the gilded invitation from his sleeve, revealing the dark red silk lining at his cuff. "Also, please be sure to attend today's luncheon."

Caesars looked at the old man in front of him, a look of surprise on his face. "Good on you, old Roy! I just laid out this treasure from the bottom of the box, and you pounced on me like a hound smelling blood. The Duke is so well-informed!"

The old butler winked slyly, a shrewd expression visible beneath his parchment-like skin. He lowered his voice and leaned closer, "To be honest, the Duke went to the palace early this morning, and I bought this armor on my own initiative. Even if the Duke doesn't like it, I can sell it at the auction house..."

Caesars interrupted him with a laugh, saying, "This damn late spring cold snap is going to freeze you to death. Take your armor and go back first. I have a big deal to discuss with the Duke at noon, and it's worth much more than this scrap metal!"

"Okay, I'll take this set of armor back with me. I'm sure it will be a surprise for the Duke. I'll be waiting for you in the castle!"

The energetic old butler put the entire set of armor into his storage ring, then bowed to Caesar and thanked him. He was also a little curious about what big deal Caesar was going to discuss with the Duke.